From being a mom to becoming a friend: How the relationship between mothers and children has changed over the years

There are not a lot of relationships that have changed as dramatically with time as the one between a mother and her children. From basking in the warmth of her lap and practising your ABCs to dancing together as you clinch your very first offer letter and going on impromptu shopping trips, the bond we share with our mothers happens to be one of the most versatile ones.
In fact, the dynamics between a mother and her child has changed evidently in the last few decades, where a mom went from being a hard taskmaster to the one you confide in after a heartbreaking separation. This shift in this relationship has been part-conscious and part natural, as we gradually (and thankfully) moved on from the notion that mothers are supposed to be an embodiment of sacrifices and forgiveness.
The journey from mom to friend
The new-age moms openly discuss their little one’s classroom crushes and let the children just be when it comes to dressing up in a particular manner. Today, more and more mothers are encouraging their children to lead independent lives as they are slowly accepting the fact that the children do not need micro-managing.
So, she no longer furrows her brows over a tattered pair of denims, but instead finds a matching crop top for you to pair it up with. She encourages you to follow your one true passion, even if it means quitting your regular 9-to-5. While, she may still run after you with a glass of milk and force you to eat healthy, homecooked food, she also needs her timeout to rewind and relax. If you have grown up hiding your secret diary from your mother where you doodled hearts and names, it may be bit of a shock to see children today discussing their love-lives with their mothers.
Even though ‘Maa ke hath ka khana’ still remains the best food in the world, mothers are encouraging their children to don the chef’s hat right from the very beginning. So, today when a mother plays the old trick of suddenly “not wanting a piece from that pie’’ so that there is enough for everyone else, kids know how to whip up a mug cake in minutes.
Simply put, the bond between the mother and her children has evolved from a child-parent relationship to a deep friendship. This shift from dependency to an honest, friendly relationship is part-beautiful and part-nostalgic.
Becoming the mum of your mother
As you get older, you begin to see a lot of things through the lens of adulthood--including the fact that you are bound to have differences of opinions with your mother. You may realise that even though she is a great mother, she doesn’t exactly keep an open mind when it comes to following suggestions and advice.
You understand that these clashes and tiffs are going to be inevitable and you may actually have to force her to do certain things for her own benefit. Slowly and gradually, you understand how life comes a whole circle, as you run after your mom and sternly ask her to stay at home during the pandemic.
You call up to check on her and understand whether or not she is taking care of herself. Did she take her medicines on time? Is she getting enough sleep? Is she still making sacrifices for others that she no longer needs to? The list isn’t exhaustive as for the first time in years you begin to understand where your stubbornness actually comes from!
My mother, my hero vs my mother, my true friend
We have come a long way from romanticizing the idea of a mother being this superhero who knows the answer to everything to understanding that she is a multitasking queen who has struggles of her own. You begin to understand that she is only human, who is trying her best to deal with challenges thrown her way. This realization ultimately paves the way for a much deeper and fulfilling relationship with your mum. So, this mother's day maybe call up your mother and tell her that she doesn’t need a day for celebration when in fact every day of your life is coloured with her warm presence.